Klaus blinked, taken aback by the intensity of the war goddess’s gaze. He had barely opened his eyes before she spoke staring daggers at him.
“How did you do it?” she asked her voice firm, curiosity clear in her tone.
“Huh?” Klaus mumbled, caught off guard.
“How did you know the arrows were coming? You’re not a Saint yet, so you don’t have divine sense. So how did you sense them?” she pressed, her eyes locked on his, demanding an answer.
Klaus chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head. “Well, it wasn’t really about seeing or sensing them in the way you’re thinking.”
The war goddess raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.
“It’s the ice,” Klaus continued. “I have a certain level of connection to the ice element, almost like feeling the air. When the mist spread, the arrows disturbed the ice particles. That’s how I knew.”
She crossed her arms, still not fully convinced. “But reacting that quickly… even with that connection, it shouldn’t be possible.”
Klaus shrugged with a grin. “Guess I’m just built differently.”
The war goddess narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Klaus for a moment longer before a small, amused smile appeared on her lips. “You certainly are,” she said. “I wouldn’t have called you ‘Little Brother’ if you weren’t special.”
Klaus raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. “Oh, so I’ve earned the title, huh? Guess I really impressed the great war goddess.”
Her smile widened slightly, though her eyes remained sharp. “Don’t let it get to your head. Special or not, you’re still reckless. You’re not invincible.”
Klaus chuckled. “Reckless is part of the charm, right? Besides, being invincible sounds boring. I’d rather keep pushing my limits.”
“Just don’t push too hard,” the war goddess warned, though there was a teasing glint in her eyes. “You’ve really angered the legacies, you know.” She chuckled softly, her tone playful. “Hehe, the coming days are going to be fun.”
Klaus grinned, his eyes flashing with excitement. “Fun, huh? Well, I was starting to think things were getting a bit too quiet anyway. Max was just unfortunate for crossing me”
She shook her head, still smiling. “You really have a knack for stirring up trouble. I hope you’re ready for the storm that’s coming. Hehe, I look favorable on you, Little Brother.”
Klaus shrugged nonchalantly. “Let them come. I’ve already faced worse, and I’ll handle whatever they throw at me.”
The war goddess chuckled again. “Well, Little Brother, I hope you keep that confidence. You’ll need it.”
“So, what’s next?” the war goddess asked, her tone warmer now, clearly pleased and easing into the conversation with Klaus.
“I’m not sure yet,” Klaus replied, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “But I feel like I’m close to something… like a breakthrough. I think I’ll spend the next few days focusing on that.”
Since waking up from the virtual world, there was a strange sensation in his eyes, something he couldn’t quite place. He knew he needed time to understand it better.
“Then you won’t be coming for your reward anytime soon?” she asked with a playful pout, a surprising display of emotion from someone with her stature and demeanor.
Klaus smiled, and without hesitation, he gently took her hand—a bold move that made her arch an eyebrow. In all her life, no one had dared to touch her so casually, yet here was this white-haired, golden-eyed boy doing just that. Oddly enough, she felt no irritation, only amusement.
“Big Sister,” Klaus said with a charming grin, his grip soft but firm. “You can always come and spend some time with me. I’ve got plenty of rooms. And if you’re scared to sleep alone, my bed’s big enough for the both of us.”
Her lips twitched in amusement, though her eyes sparked with a hint of surprise. Klaus’s audacity was refreshing, and his carefree nature was disarming in a way she hadn’t expected.
“You really are something else, Little Brother,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips, shaking her head lightly. “I will take you on the offer; I don’t particularly have anything better going on anyway.”
Klaus’s grin widened at her comment. “Then I’ll make sure your stay is unforgettable.”
“Klaus, you really did it!” Danny was the first to blurt out as Klaus and the War Goddess stepped out of the room.
“Of course. I wouldn’t let you lose your money like that,” Klaus replied with a confident smile.
“Klaus, Ella, and Ethan Duncan just released a statement,” Lily said, glancing up from her phone and showing him the screen. A video of Ethan and Ella played.
“Klaus Hanson, you’ve crossed a line you shouldn’t have,” Ethan’s voice was cold. “Just because you accepted a challenge from a legacy doesn’t give you the right to insult all of us. You’ve gone too far, and for that, you’ll pay.
Because of your arrogance, I’m using my status as a Legacy to ban you from Union City. The ban will remain in effect until you apologize to all legacies.”
Klaus smirked, shaking his head. “Tsk, what a bunch of clowns.”
“What are you going to do, Klaus? If you can’t enter Union City, you can’t participate in the Union Selection after the regional rounds,” Anna said, her voice laced with concern.
“Who cares? If the Academy doesn’t step in, then maybe it’s the wrong place for me.” Klaus was unfazed. A ban didn’t matter much to him—he is a Paragon, and with his star qi, he had more than enough power to handle whatever came his way academy or not.
“Don’t worry, little brother. I’ll talk to the Academy and have them take care of it,” the War Goddess reassured him.
“Thank you, big sister,” Klaus replied with a smile.
“So, are you going to respond to them?” Daniel asked, clearly excited by the drama. Klaus could sense the chaos brewing in his friend’s mind—they were similar in that way. He also craves chaos, and what better time than when the chicken came knocking?
Without a second thought, Klaus pulled out his phone, typed a single word, and tagged the video from Ethan and Ella: “Clowns.”
That one word ignited chaos online. His fans and haters clashed online, blowing everything out of proportion. However, Klaus, the instigator, is headed home with his friends and a big sister, ready to celebrate his victory.
As soon as they arrived, Klaus spotted his mother standing at the entrance, arms crossed over her chest. Although she wore a smile, he could tell she was mad.
“Brat, come here,” she called the moment he stepped out of the car.
Klaus obediently walked toward her, his head slightly bowed. he stopped in front of her not daring to raise his head. Suddenly, he felt her soft arms wrap around him.
“My baby boy,” his mother whispered, her voice gentle. Klaus was caught off guard and froze for a moment. Then, without warning, a sharp pain shot through his left ear as she pinched it.
“Brat, what did I tell you about taking unnecessary risks?” she scolded.
“Mom!” Klaus yelped in pain. Somehow, her pinches always hurt more than anything else.
His mother gave him a pointed look. “Your friends are here, so I’ll spare you some face, but once they leave, I’ll deal with you properly.”
Klaus could only grin sheepishly, rubbing his sore ear as he glanced at his friends. “Mom, I have something to tell you. I’ve got a big sister now, and she’ll be staying with us for a while.” He gestured towards the War Goddess, who watched the scene with an amused smile.
“Hello, I’m Mariam,” she introduced herself, her voice calm but warm. Klaus and the others raised their eyebrows in surprise, hearing her name for the first time.
“Big sister, your name is as beautiful as you,” Klaus quickly added, cutting off his mother before she could speak.
His mother gave him a playful smack on the back of his head. “Brat, you’re not getting any ideas, are you?” she warned with a smirk before gesturing for everyone to come inside. She knew this no-good son of hers had no good intention of picking a sister off the road just like that.
They all entered, laughing at Klaus’s predicament. The same Klaus who had just taken down a legacy was now getting smacked left, right, and center by his mother.
“Big sister, now do you see why I need to share a room with you? This mother of mine is too cruel!” Klaus whined dramatically, hiding behind Mariam.
But he underestimated the power of women. With a sly smile, Mariam stepped aside, allowing his mother to grab his ear again and pull him forward.
The whole scene became lively with laughter. Even the maids watching couldn’t hold back their giggles, seeing the young master humbled by his mother.
Once inside, Klaus stood there, eyes slightly red from all the ear-pulling. His mother and the War Goddess exchanged amused smiles as they watched him. Klaus turned to Anna and Lily, his face filled with mock sorrow.
“Fairies, you wouldn’t let your handsome friend suffer such injustice, right? How about it—want to spend the night with me and comfort me in my sleep?” Klaus asked, giving them his best puppy eyes.
Both girls blushed, glancing at each other before quickly running to hide behind his mother and Mariam. Klaus could only sigh as they betrayed him without hesitation.
“Don’t worry, Klaus. I’ll spend the night with you,” Danny chimed in, patting Klaus on the shoulder.
Klaus immediately scoffed, shrugging him off. “Tsk, who wants to spend the night with you? Only the ladies get that privilege!”
The room was filled with laughter, warmth, and a sense of togetherness. Soon, dinner was served, and they all ate, enjoying each other’s company. Afterward, Anna and the others left, leaving just Klaus, his mother, and the War Goddess, Miriam.
Klaus spent some time chatting with them, but eventually, he excused himself to get some rest. He had a lot to do the next day, and he needed his beauty sleep.
When he woke up the next morning, he found himself alone in his bed, making him sigh in mild disappointment. With a grin, he thought to himself, ‘Another day, another chance. One way or another, I’ll manage to sleep with my face nestled between those mountains on Miriam’s chest.’
With that amusing thought, Klaus got up, ready to face whatever the day had in store for him.